French Senate Approves Key Section of Marriage Bill, All but Assuring Freedom to Marry

New York -- The French Senate approved the most significant portion of its freedom to marry bill today, voting 179 to 157 to end the restriction on marriage for same-sex couples. The legislation faces additional votes before Senate approval of the entire bill, with final passage considered assured. Likewise, President François Hollande, a vocal supporter of the freedom to marry, is certain to sign the bill. Similar freedom to marry legislation seems likely to pass this year in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, while Uruguay voted for the freedom to marry just a week ago.

Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, released this statement:

“France is poised to become the latest country -- 16 on four continents -- where loving and committed gay couples can share in the freedom to marry, and it won't be the last this year. Like France, the United States extols liberty, equality, and fairness; it is time for our country, too, to end the denial of marriage and live up to our best values.”

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Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.